OT: Hey Nerds! My fcking Back and Legs and Feet

[Wayward DP]

I do agree with what you said tho! Important to find a physio that works for you and not just settle on the first one you go to. Out of the 4 I went to, they did weird electromagnetic things, needle things that hurt like hell, ultrasound things, etc. Just a waste of time mostly. And then I met the love of my life, Jenny, and everything changed.

I have seen at least a half dozen physios in the past decade lol.

But, I think I have found one that will be my go-to. Treating me for a finger injury currently - will definitely stay with her for anything finger or hand related, tbd when I hurt something else.

The physio makes a big difference. And my current one absolutely loves dry-needling, which I think is fan-fucking-tastic

 

[Preston]

I have seen at least a half dozen physios in the past decade lol.

But, I think I have found one that will be my go-to. Treating me for a finger injury currently - will definitely stay with her for anything finger or hand related, tbd when I hurt something else.

The physio makes a big difference. And my current one absolutely loves dry-needling, which I think is fan-fucking-tastic

I now know that when you go to a physio and they hook up a machine and rub some electromagnetic thing on you it's a grift. There is 0 evidence behind any of that BUT if you think it works it can absolutely help a lot. Placebo effect is Yuge when it comes to pain.

Dry needling has little research behind it, but it makes more sense for some temporary relief but it never worked for me. Of course a lack of research behind something doesn't mean it unequivocally doesn't work. Just didn't for me and my issues.

 

[blkngldbabe]

I now know that when you go to a physio and they hook up a machine and rub some electromagnetic thing on you it's a grift. There is 0 evidence behind any of that BUT if you think it works it can absolutely help a lot. Placebo effect is Yuge when it comes to pain.

Dry needling has little research behind it, but it makes more sense for some temporary relief but it never worked for me. Of course a lack of research behind something doesn't mean it unequivocally doesn't work. Just didn't for me and my issues.

I had cold laser done to my rotator cuff injury when it was acute and it helped tremendously. Reduced the swelling and did wonders for the healing time

 

[Preston]

I had cold laser done to my rotator cuff injury when it was acute and it helped tremendously. Reduced the swelling and did wonders for the healing time

Idk much about cold laser specifically but my general rule is to try everything and if something works, don't ask questions. Whether it actually works or it's a placebo it doesn't matter as long as you feel better. I never got that therapy done myself so I wouldn't know if it would work for me.

 

[Wayward DP]

I now know that when you go to a physio and they hook up a machine and rub some electromagnetic thing on you it's a grift. There is 0 evidence behind any of that BUT if you think it works it can absolutely help a lot. Placebo effect is Yuge when it comes to pain.

Dry needling has little research behind it, but it makes more sense for some temporary relief but it never worked for me. Of course a lack of research behind something doesn't mean it unequivocally doesn't work. Just didn't for me and my issues.

I think you are referring to the electrostim machine, I believe. and my understanding is that it essentially makes things feel better but does not help them heal at all.

and yeah, seems to be a go to for PTs who do not want to do the actual work. but you are dead on re: placebo.

I also don't love PTs where you are one of eight patients being treated at a time and they are jumping back and forth from room to room.

anyhow, I am now at a clinic that ironically enough I have previously referred clients to. great for sports injuries and my current PT has treated enough climbers (and football players) over the years to have some expertise when it comes to fingers. and she's also just so damn lovely, which helps. plus they have a kinesiologist who is part of your treatment program and designs a custom exercise plan for you.

 

[Wayward DP]

I had cold laser done to my rotator cuff injury when it was acute and it helped tremendously. Reduced the swelling and did wonders for the healing time

pretty sure presto is talking about a different machine!

my most recent round of treatment for some inflammation in some cartilage in my wrist my PT used both the laser and the electrostim during each session.

the laser is like a gun they just point and beeps, and the electrostim involves attaching things to your skin and actually pumping electricity through the area in question, I believe.

 

[Preston]

I think you are referring to the electrostim machine, I believe. and my understanding is that it essentially makes things feel better but does not help them heal at all.

and yeah, seems to be a go to for PTs who do not want to do the actual work. but you are dead on re: placebo.

I also don't love PTs where you are one of eight patients being treated at a time and they are jumping back and forth from room to room.

anyhow, I am now at a clinic that ironically enough I have previously referred clients to. great for sports injuries and my current PT has treated enough climbers (and football players) over the years to have some expertise when it comes to fingers. and she's also just so damn lovely, which helps. plus they have a kinesiologist who is part of your treatment program and designs a custom exercise plan for you.

Yeah that's the one. First place I went to had like 6 people in a row on the machine. I was on it and some ultrasound thing as well for like 45 minutes. It didn't do anything so I never returned. I looked into after and it is indeed a bullshit product. Phsyios know this BUT they also know the power of the placebo so they try it on every patient. And for a lot of people it works.

And then every other place I went to (other than MEs girl) had this machine as a go-to; I was straight up with all of them that I do not want to waste my time with that and asked to keep things productive. I sorta understand it because you have to kill time somehow. You can only teach people how to exercise/stretch for so long.

My goal was really to get to the root of the issue anyway. Even if those machines provided temporary relief, it's not what I needed or wanted. So thanks to ME I found what I wanted and needed eventually.

 

[MindzEye]

I now know that when you go to a physio and they hook up a machine and rub some electromagnetic thing on you it's a grift. There is 0 evidence behind any of that BUT if you think it works it can absolutely help a lot. Placebo effect is Yuge when it comes to pain.

Dry needling has little research behind it, but it makes more sense for some temporary relief but it never worked for me. Of course a lack of research behind something doesn't mean it unequivocally doesn't work. Just didn't for me and my issues.

Needling is pretty good. The physio i was using in Calgary kept my back under control for months with that technique while he was getting certified for MAT. He was my original Jenny and was who got me hooked.

I went to other physios before him who did the electrostim junk, some chiro style adjustment junk, etc. Most of that stuff seems to be time filler under the idea that the stretches and exercises are what fix the problem...but they need to fill a 45-60 min appointment t

 

[Artnes]

I have started to steer away from static stretching and focused more on movement based. I found much better results in mobility especially when it comes to tight hip flexors and groin

 

[Preston]

My first every physio appointment was like an hour and half and over half of that was being hooked up to random machines. The other half was the dude assessing me very slowly and telling me I can never play hockey again and that I'm in serious trouble unless I see him multiple times a week. He then hooked me up to the machines, gave me a handout of like 4 stretches and sent me home.

 

[Wayward DP]

I have started to steer away from static stretching and focused more on movement based. I found much better results in mobility especially when it comes to tight hip flexors and groin

as I have aged and slowed down I have been forced to develop a moderately extensive warm-up routine I use at the bouldering gym, and it is almost entirely dynamic stretches/exercises.

ironically enough after I post about all the PTs I have seen in recent years it does make a huge difference lol. I had gotten to the point a few years back where my elbows and wrists basically could not sustain gym climbing at all and the new warm up was part of the response to it.

 

[Wayward DP]

My first every physio appointment was like an hour and half and over half of that was being hooked up to random machines. The other half was the dude assessing me very slowly and telling me I can never play hockey again and that I'm in serious trouble unless I see him multiple times a week. He then hooked me up to the machines, gave me a handout of like 4 stretches and sent me home.

yeah for some of them its quite the racket.

another reason I like my new PT, she is clearly not focussed on billing and cares way more about treatment. Ms. Wayward went to see her, got an assessment, left with an exercise program, told to return in two months if there is still pain. most physios would have her back the following week.

and then of course you have physios who treat accident victims with the insurers funding the treatment. everyone who sees these physios gets better immediately (insurers do not want to pay for proper treatment). actually interviewed someone who used to work as an OT at a big clinic and complained she was hamstrung from providing proper treatment due to cheapo insurers.

 

[Preston]

yeah for some of them its quite the racket.

another reason I like my new PT, she is clearly not focussed on billing and cares way more about treatment. Ms. Wayward went to see her, got an assessment, left with an exercise program, told to return in two months if there is still pain. most physios would have her back the following week.

and then of course you have physios who treat accident victims with the insurers funding the treatment. everyone who sees these physios gets better immediately (insurers do not want to pay for proper treatment). actually interviewed someone who used to work as an OT at a big clinic and complained she was hamstrung from providing proper treatment due to cheapo insurers.

And the first place I went to had incredible reviews with someone I know recommending it to me. So it works on people. They love it and it makes them feel better. There have been some mindblowing studies on how powerful a placebo can be. I am not above it.. I am just unfortunately too cynical. That's kinda why I was shocked that MAT worked on me. I went in there highly skeptical but as soon as I stepped off the bed I felt like a new fucking person, using muscles I haven't used since 1996. That's the kind of noticeable result I never got from anyone else and it happened in the first fucking session!

So anyway I am not knocking the profession. There are plenty out there too who don't rely on gimmicks so it really is about shopping around and finding what works for you.

 

[MindzEye]

The other problem with physio referrals is that most non structural conditions literally fix themselves. Either the injury heals and normal motor patterns build up the strength necessary to keep it healthy, or just by the body rewiring the load away from the injury ( and building towards future injury of other muscles). So most physios seem like geniuses if they practice good customer care, seem knowledgeable, and the minor (but painful) issue sorts itself out.

A physios real worth is how well they deal with serious or persistent issues.